replace its Fuji-built All-Is. The AH-X programme, for
around 100 aircraft, is expected to restart in late 2000 with
deliveries starting in around 2004. Fuji is offering a four-
bladed, twin-engine Cobra variant and may also make a bid
based on the AH-64 Apache. Trading house Marubeni is
supporting a Tiger bid. Kawasaki is to offer an "Al 1-2" ver
sion of its OH-1. It would have more powerful engines,
MTR390sorT800sinplaceofits660kWMitsubishiXTSl-
10s. In the 2000-1 budget request theJGSDF included fund
ing for four OH-ls, three improved UH-60Js, seven Fuji
I 11- ljs. two Q I-47JAs and one Raytheon LR-2&
Type No Role
•m/mii^i
AH-1F Cobra
Kawasaki 0H-1
CH-47J Chinook
KV-107-II (Sea Knight)
AS332L Super Puma
UH-60JA
UH-1H/J Iroquois
0H-6D/J Cayuse
MU-2 (LR-1)
Super King Air (LR-2)
86
13*
45*
5
3
8*
170*
185
16
3*
anti-tank
scout
trans
trans
VIP
trans
trans/mine-lay
AOP/liaison/
trng
comms
comms
KAZAKHSTAN AIR FORCE
Like most CIS states, Kazakhstan claimed most of its air
force from Soviet equipment based on its territory after
independence in December 1991. It acquired new equip
ment, MiG-29s and Su-27s, in return for handing over 40
Tupolev Tu-95MS Bears that were left at Semipalatinsk air-
base. These aircraft and SS-18ICBM silos left the Kazaks
with a formidable nuclear strike force in theory. The silos
were all destroyed by late 1996 and the Bears have gone, leav
ing the nation with a moderate, short-range air force. In
February 1999 the Kazak president, Nursultan Nazarbayev,
told a local newspaper that die air force had 36 squadrons and
that pilots typically flew lOOh a year, compared with the more
usual 20h for CIS air forces. Kazakhstan is a signatory to the
joint CIS air defence plan. A further four Su-27s and some L-
39s were delivered in early 2000. Many aircraft are probably
stored.
Typo No Role
AL QUWWAT AL JAWWIYA AL MALAKIYA AL URDUNIYA
(ROYAL JORDANIAN AIR F0RCE/RJAF)
In late 1997/early 1998 the RJAF received 16 F-16s on five-
year lease from the USAF. Before deliver)- the aircraft
received a structural and engine upgrade. These aircraft form
the basis for an RJAF plan to overhaul its fighter fleet, with
further F-16s being acquired to replace the tired Mirage FI s
and F-5s. Some two-seat F-5s could be upgraded to perform
advanced training. Another 70-80 F-16s would be required
by 2007. The air force requiresat least three further I Iercules.
possibly four, following the loss of a C-130 in August 2000,
and 12-16 replacement aircraft for its Bulldog primary train
ers. 'I woCN2 3 5Ms have been leased from Turkey. The RJAF
would also like further Ul I-1 Ls and to upgrade at least sonic'
of its UH-lHs with higher-powered engines and new avion
ics, which would make the aircraft better equipped for special
forces work. The AI I- ls also require upgrades, not least the
addition of a night fighting capability.
TheRJAF operates three BOlOSCBSacquiredin 1988on
behalf of the police.
Typo No Role
F-16A/B
Mirage F1B/C/E
F-5E/F Tiger
AH-1F Cobra
C-130B/H Hercules
CN235
C212 Aviocar
TriStar 500
S-70
Gulfstrearri
SA316C Alouette III
TB-20
UH-1H/L Iroquois
AS332M-1 Super Puma
C101CC Aviojet
Bulldog 125/125A
Hughes 500D
Extra 300
B0105CBS
Challenger 604
12/4
29
42
20
2/4
2
2 '
1
3
1
1
1
36/18
10
13
17
6
5
3
2
int
int/attack
int/recce/trng
anti-tank
trans
trans
trans/VIP/surv
VIP
VIP
VIP
VIP
VIP
trans
trans
trng
trng
trng
aero team
police
VIP
MiG-23/U Flogger
MiG-25PD/U Foxbat
MiG-31 Foxhound
MiG-29A/U Fulcrum
Su-27C/UB Flanker
Su-24 Fencer
Mi-24 Hind
Mi-8 Hip
An-12 Cub
An-24 Coke
An-26 Curl
Mi-6 Hook
Mi-26 Halo
757-200
Falcon 900
Tu-134
Tu-154
An-30 Clank
100
30
30
36
20
40
42
60
5
1
14
6
24
1
1
2
2
6
int/attack/trng
int/trng
int
int/attack/trng
int/attack
attack/recce
attack
assault/trans
trans
trans
trans
trans
trans
VIP
VIP
comms
comms/VIP
surv
B!^?tV:l
KENYA AIR FORCE
Between 1982 and 1994 the air force operated as The '82 Air
Force. After an attempted coup in August 1982 it was dis
banded and placed under army control. Its main strike force
comprises F-5F Tigers delivered in the late 1970s. The
Buffalos will remain in service until at least 2005. Some
MD500s have Nitcsun searchlights for ami-poaching patrols
in game reserves.
Type No Role
F-5E/F Tiger II
Hawk Mk52
Tucano Mk51
B0105CBS
Bulldog 103/127
DHC-5D Buffalo .
DHC-8-100 Dash 8
Fokker 70
Dornier 28D Skyservant
Hughes 500MD/ME/D
SA330/IAR-330 Puma
Y-12
6/2
9
11
1
7
8
3
1
6
30/2
3/9
6
int/FGA/trng
trng/attack
trng/COIN
liaison
trng
trans
trans
VIP
trans
COIN/trng
trans
trans
h:tii','/:'ii
AI Quwwat AI Jawwiya Al Kuwaitiya (Kuwait Air Force)
Kuwait acquired 40 F/A-18s after the 1991 GulfWar and sold
its A-4 Skyhawks to Brazil. It has also tried to sell its Mirage
Fl fleet, which was refurbished after the Gulf War by
Dassault and retired in 1993. Kuwait has been evaluating
attack helicopters. It selected the AII-64D Apache in late
1997. A letter of acceptance was to be signed in early 1998 for
16 aircraft without the Longbow radar, but an order still
awaits finalisation. Any deal is expected to include Ilellfirc
missiles, other weapons and spares, and, following changes in
US policy, the Longbow radar. Kuwait has selected the
C-130J and is expected at some stage to sign a deal for six air
craft. During 1998-9 the Hawk fleet was returned to airwor
thiness by the manufacturer and the Tucanos are also
expected to return to the air. These moves mark the restart of
Kuwait's flying training programme.
Type No Role
F/A-18 C/D Hornet
Hawk 64
Shorts Tucano
L-10O30 Hercules
AS532AF Cougar
SA330H Puma
SA342K Gazelle
DC-9/MD-83
32/8
12
16
3
3
8
16
1/1
int/attack
trng/attack
trng
trans
anti-shipping
trans/SAR
anti-tank/
AOP/police
trans
• I ——•
REPUBLIC OF KYRGIZIA AIR ARM
The Kyrgyz Republic is a signatory to the CIS joint air
defence pact. Its own air arm was inherited from the central
Soviet air force training school. This gave the nation a fleet of
nearly 70 L-39s, dismantled MiG-2 ls and various Mi-8s and
Mi-24s, but its air force appears limited toa few L-39 Albatros
trainers and perhaps 20 Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters.
In September 1999 continuing unrest in Central Asia led
Rassia to offer an aid package which reportedly included Su-
24 and Su-25 attack aircraft, transport aircraft and heli
copters. The unrest led to the Kyrgyz. air force launching air
strikes against insurgents in August-September 2000.
•^:i. JJ: :^Z~ZZI3MBMM
LAOS PEOPLE'S LIBERATION ARMY AIR FORCE
Laos and Russia signed a defence co-operation pact in July
1997. The Laotian air force received 12 Mi-17s in 1998-9.
Laos also acquired six Ka-32'F Helix transports, die first of
which was delivered in June 2000. Also in 1998-9, Indian
manufacturer HAL was awarded a maintenance deal for 29
MiG-21 s, but this collapsed once it was evident the MiG-21 's
structural life had expired.
The transport aircraft are ope rated jointly with die nation
al airline, Lao Aviation, which also has Chinese-built Y-
12(II)sandY-7s.
Type No Role
MiG-21PF/U Fishbed
An-24 Coke
Y-12(ll)
Y-7
An-2 Colt
Yak-40 Codling
Mi-6 Hook
Mi-8/17 Hip
Ka-32T Helix
tprobably wfu
29t
3
7
5
10
2
1
9/12"
6
int/FGA/trng
trans
trans
trans
trans
VIP
heavylift
trans
trans
LATVIAS REPUBUKAS GAISA SPEKI (AIR FORCE)
Latvia's air force was formed in August 1994 after the last
Russian forces withdrew. The inventor)- includes four
FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 28 November - 4 December 2000 73